Working/Functional Title

Assistant Professor Positions in Science & Society

Position Summary

Michigan State University (MSU) and MSU's Lyman Briggs College (LBC) actively promote a dynamic working and learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry. 

MSU invites applications for two tenure system faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor with a focus on Science and Society (previously known in LBC as History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science) starting August of 2025. The successful candidate must have a PhD, or a PhD conferred before the position start date, in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities with expertise in Science and Society. The successful candidate will be committed to advancing excellence in undergraduate teaching, particularly with respect to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B). The scholarly research of the successful candidate will focus on Science and Society, which explores the interplay between the sciences and the arts, humanities, and social sciences. We are particularly interested in teacher-scholars whose research and teaching interrogates social justice, diversity, and the experiences of marginalized communities through an intersectional lens that recognizes the interplay of various forms of inequity and identity. We encourage approaches that are collaborative, participatory, and empowering with marginalized communities.  Some examples of areas may include (but are not limited to): Environmental, Racial, and/or Disability Justice; Science and Social Justice; Transnational/Global perspectives on Science and Society. The appointment will be split between Lyman Briggs College (75%) and a joint unit (25%) in the College of Social Science (CSS) or College of Arts & Letters (CAL). Example joint units include, but not limited to, the Departments of Philosophy, History, and Sociology. The position expectation is 65% teaching, 25% research, and 10% service. 

Both positions offer exciting opportunities for individuals interested in teaching in a liberal-arts style residential college embedded within a large Big Ten research-intensive university. Founded in 1967, LBC is a vibrant undergraduate residential college within MSU focusing on the study of the sciences in their societal and global contexts. The LBC curriculum integrates the natural sciences and mathematics with the social and humanistic study of science. There are approximately 2,000 students in Lyman Briggs, 66% of whom are women. 31% of all primary, secondary degree, and additional majors identify as students of an underrepresented racial/ethnic group. Additionally, 32% of LBC students are members of the MSU Honors College. Faculty work closely with students in small classes. LBC is also a leading center for research on teaching and learning and for interdisciplinary scholarship.

As part of the LBC 2032 Strategic Plan{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, the college is committed to recruiting a diverse community of faculty, staff, and advisors that represent to our students and the larger community a wide range of identities, experiences, and fields of expertise. As such, applicants from all identity groups including those within the LGBTQIA+ community, applicants of color, veterans, applicants with disabilities, and applicants from other historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups are invited and welcome to apply.  

The LBC Science and Society Group is a lively and interdisciplinary